Multi-segment wearable accessory

ABSTRACT

A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to facilitate the use of a multi-segment wearable accessory. In this regard, methods, apparatus and computer program products are provided for controlling and, in some instances, interacting with a multi-segment wearable accessory. Each screen presented on or capable of being presented on the display of a segment of the multi-segment wearable accessory may be considered a virtual segment, and the number of virtual segments may be greater than the number of physical segments of the accessory. One or more of the virtual segments may be associated with one or more of the segments in an overlaid configuration, such that a topmost virtual segment is presented for viewing while another virtual segment lies below the topmost virtual segment, hidden from the user&#39;s view. A virtual segment may be replaced with presentation of another virtual segment in response to rotation of the accessory.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/624,039 entitled “Multi-Segment Wearable Accessory,” filed Apr. 13,2012, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety.

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

An example embodiment of the present invention relates generally to amulti-segment wearable accessory and, more particularly, to methods,apparatus and computer program products for controlling and, in someembodiments, interacting with a multi-segment wearable accessory.

BACKGROUND

Mobile terminals, such as mobile telephones, personal digital assistants(PDAs), gaming devices, music players or the like, are widely utilizedin order to provide many different functions. For example, mobileterminals may be commonly utilized in order to establish voice calls, toexchange email communications, text messages or instant messages, toplay various forms of media, to browse the Internet, to play games, etc.While mobile terminals are capable of providing a wide variety offunctionality, the user may regularly utilize only a subset of thefunctions supported by the mobile terminal with the particular functionsthat are utilized depending upon the context of the user. For example, auser who carries a mobile terminal while going out with friends mayutilize the telephone and messaging functionality, but may not utilizethe gaming or media playing functionality.

Even though the user may utilize only a subset of the functionalityprovided by a mobile terminal depending upon their context, a user maycarry a mobile terminal at virtually all times. Thus, the user must keeptrack of the mobile terminal and must safeguard the mobile terminal fromdamage due to impact, exposure to water or the like. In some instances,users may carry two or more mobile terminals, such as a personalcellular telephone, a PDA utilized for work and a gaming device. Inthese instances, a user must keep track of even more mobile terminalswhich may, in some instances, be distracting or at least somewhattime-consuming for the user.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided inaccordance with an example embodiment for facilitating the use of amulti-segment wearable accessory. The multi-segment wearable accessorymay be configured to provide various types of functionality and may beworn by the user so as to reduce the number of independent mobileterminals that the user must otherwise carry. In one embodiment, themethod, apparatus and computer program product may facilitate theinteraction of the plurality of segments of a multi-segment wearableaccessory. Additionally or alternatively, the multi-segment wearableaccessory may be tailored in one embodiment such that the segments areappropriate for the context of the user.

In one embodiment, a method is provided that includes associating firstcontent with a segment of a multi-segment wearable accessory andassociating second content with the segment of the multi-segmentwearable accessory. Each of the first and second content represents avirtual segment. The method of this embodiment also includes causing oneor more virtual segments to be presented on a display of the segment. Inresponse to rotation of the multi-segment wearable accessory, the methodof this embodiment determines whether to replace the virtual segmentbeing presented with presentation of the other virtual segment. In oneembodiment, the method may also, in response to rotation of themulti-segment wearable accessory, determine whether to power down thedisplay of the segment.

The determination as to whether to replace the virtual segment beingpresented with the presentation of the other virtual segment may bebased at least partially on a location of the display of the segmentwith respect to the user's line of sight. For example, the virtualsegment that is caused to be presented may be replaced with thepresentation of the other virtual segment in an instance in which thedisplay of the segment is outside the user's line of sight with respectto displays of other segments of the multi-segment wearable accessory.The method of one embodiment may also associate additional virtualsegment with additional segments of the multi-segment wearable accessorysuch that the total number of virtual segments of the multi-segmentwearable accessory is greater than the total number of segments of themulti-segment wearable accessory. Each virtual segment being presentedon a display of a respective segment may be sequentially replaced inaccordance with this embodiment with the presentation of another virtualsegment associated with the respective segment. In this embodiment, thevirtual segments being presented on displays of adjacent segments mayprovide a user with continuous scrolling of content.

In another embodiment, an apparatus is provided that includes at leastone processor and at least one memory including computer program codewith the at least one memory and the computer program code configuredto, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least associate firstcontent with a segment of a multi-segment wearable accessory andassociate second content with the segment of the multi-segment wearableaccessory. Each of the first and second content represents a virtualsegment. The at least one memory and the computer program code are alsoconfigured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to cause one ofthe virtual segments to be presented on a display of the segment. Inresponse to rotation of the multi-segment wearable accessory, the atleast one memory and the computer program code are also configured to,with the processor, cause the apparatus to determine whether to replacethe virtual segment being presented with presentation of the othervirtual segment. In one embodiment, the at least one memory and thecomputer program code may also be configured to, with the processor,cause the apparatus to determine, in response to rotation of themulti-segment wearable accessory, whether to power down the display ofthe segment.

The determination as to whether to replace the virtual segment beingpresented with the presentation of the other virtual segment may bebased at least partially on a location of the display of the segmentwith respect to the user's line of sight. For example, the virtualsegment that is caused to be presented may be replaced with thepresentation of the other virtual segment in an instance in which thedisplay of the segment is outside the user's line of sight with respectto displays of other segments of the multi-segment wearable accessory.In one embodiment, the at least one memory and the computer program codemay also be configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus todetect rotation of the multi-segment wearable accessory via an inertialmeasurement unit (IMU). The at least one memory and the computer programcode may also be configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatusto associate additional virtual segment with additional segments of themulti-segment wearable accessory such that the total number of virtualsegments of the multi-segment wearable accessory is greater than thetotal number of segments of the multi-segment wearable accessory. Eachvirtual segment being presented on a display of a respective segment maybe sequentially replaced in accordance with this embodiment with thepresentation of another virtual segment associated with the respectivesegment. In this embodiment, the virtual segments being presented ondisplays of adjacent segments may provide a user with continuousscrolling of content.

In a further embodiment, a computer program product is provided thatincludes at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage mediumhaving computer-executable program code portions stored therein with thecomputer-executable program code portions including program codeinstructions configured to associate first content with a segment of amulti-segment wearable accessory and to associate second content withthe segment of the multi-segment wearable accessory. Each of the firstand second content represents a virtual segment. The computer-executableprogram code portions of this embodiment may also include program codeinstructions configured to cause one or more virtual segments to bepresented on a display of the segment. In response to rotation of themulti-segment wearable accessory, the computer-executable program codeportions include program code instructions configured to determinewhether to replace the virtual segment being presented with presentationof the other virtual segment. In one embodiment, the computer-executableprogram code portions also include program code instructions configured,in response to rotation of the multi-segment wearable accessory,determine whether to power down the display of the segment.

The determination as to whether to replace the virtual segment beingpresented with the presentation of the other virtual segment may bebased at least partially on a location of the display of the segmentwith respect to the user's line of sight. For example, the virtualsegment that is caused to be presented may be replaced with thepresentation of the other virtual segment in an instance in which thedisplay of the segment is outside the user's line of sight with respectto displays of other segments of the multi-segment wearable accessory.The computer-executable program code portions of one embodiment alsoinclude program code instructions configured to associate additionalvirtual segment with additional segments of the multi-segment wearableaccessory such that the total number of virtual segments of themulti-segment wearable accessory is greater than the total number ofsegments of the multi-segment wearable accessory. Each virtual segmentbeing presented on a display of a respective segment may be sequentiallyreplaced in accordance with this embodiment with the presentation ofanother virtual segment associated with the respective segment. In thisembodiment, the virtual segments being presented on displays of adjacentsegments may provide a user with continuous scrolling of content.

In yet another embodiment, an apparatus is provided that includes meansfor associating first content with a segment of a multi-segment wearableaccessory and means for associating second content with the segment ofthe multi-segment wearable accessory. Each of the first and secondcontent represents a virtual segment. The apparatus of this embodimentalso includes means for causing one of the virtual segments to bepresented on a display of the segment. In response to rotation of themulti-segment wearable accessory, the apparatus of this embodiment alsoincludes means for determining whether to replace the virtual segmentbeing presented with presentation of the other virtual segment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus described certain embodiments of the invention in generalterms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, whichare not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a multi-segmentwearable accessory that may be specifically configured according to anexample embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic block diagram of an apparatus that may bespecifically configured according to an example embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a plan view of a multi-segment wearable accessorythat may be specifically configured according to an example embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of a multi-segment wearable accessorythat may be specifically configured according to an example embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a plan view of two segments of a multi-segmentwearable accessory that depicts movement of the touch input upon one ofthe segments according to an example embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate the effects on content displayed on thesegments as a result of touch input applied according to FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 illustrates a plan view of three segments of a multi-segmentwearable accessory that depicts movement of the touch inputs upon two ofthe segments according to an example embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6A illustrates the effects on content displayed on the segments asa result of touch input applied according to FIG. 6;

FIG. 7 illustrates a plan view of two segments of a multi-segmentwearable accessory that depicts movement of the touch input upon one ofthe segments in an opposite direction from that shown in FIG. 5according to an example embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a plan view of two segments of a multi-segmentwearable accessory that depicts a rotational gesture according to anexample embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8A illustrates the effects on content displayed on the segments asa result of touch input applied according to FIG. 8;

FIG. 9 illustrates a plan view of three segments of a multi-segmentwearable accessory that depicts touch input applied according to anexample embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 10A-10C illustrate side views of a multi-segment wearableaccessory depicting the association of different virtual segments withthe segments of the multi-segment wearable accessory according to anexample embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates a side view of a multi-segment wearable accessorythat has been positioned in a flat configuration;

FIGS. 12-16 illustrate flowcharts of methods of providing and/orinteracting with content on a multi-segment wearable accessory accordingto another example embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 17 illustrates a schematic representation of an inertialmeasurement unit (IMU) of one or more segments of the multi-segmentwearable accessory according to an example embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Some embodiments of the present invention will now be described morefully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichsome, but not all, embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed,various embodiments of the invention may be embodied in many differentforms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments setforth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that thisdisclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like referencenumerals refer to like elements throughout. As used herein, the terms“data,” “content,” “information,” and similar terms may be usedinterchangeably to refer to data capable of being transmitted, receivedand/or stored in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.Thus, use of any such terms should not be taken to limit the spirit andscope of embodiments of the present invention.

Additionally, as used herein, the term ‘circuitry’ refers to (a)hardware-only circuit implementations (e.g., implementations in analogcircuitry and/or digital circuitry); (b) combinations of circuits andcomputer program product(s) comprising software and/or firmwareinstructions stored on one or more computer readable memories that worktogether to cause an apparatus to perform one or more functionsdescribed herein; and (c) circuits, such as, for example, amicroprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requiresoftware or firmware for operation even if the software or firmware isnot physically present. This definition of ‘circuitry’ applies to alluses of this term herein, including in any claims. As a further example,as used herein, the term ‘circuitry’ also includes an implementationcomprising one or more processors and/or portion(s) thereof andaccompanying software and/or firmware. As another example, the term‘circuitry’ as used herein also includes, for example, a basebandintegrated circuit or applications processor integrated circuit for amobile phone or a similar integrated circuit in a server, a cellularnetwork device, other network device, and/or other computing device.

As defined herein, a “computer-readable storage medium,” which refers toa non-transitory, physical storage medium (e.g., volatile ornon-volatile memory device), can be differentiated from a“computer-readable transmission medium,” which refers to anelectromagnetic signal.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an exploded perspective view of a multi-segmentwearable accessory 10 is provided. Although generally described hereinas a wearable accessory in the form of a bracelet, the multi-segmentwearable accessory may be embodied in various other manners including,for example, as an anklet, a necklace, a ring or the like. As shown inFIG. 1, the multi-segment wearable accessory 10 of one exampleembodiment includes a frame 12 that is sized and shaped to extend aboutthe respective body part, such as a wrist, an ankle, a finger or thelike. The frame 12 may be formed of various materials including variousmetallic materials, plastic materials, composite materials, etc.

In one embodiment, the frame 12 is relatively rigid so as to maintain apredefined shape, while in other embodiments, the frame is at leastsomewhat flexible or movable. In the illustrated embodiment, however,the frame includes a plurality of links or frame members 13 that areconnected to one another so as to define a closed shape. Although theframe members 13 of the embodiment of FIG. 1 are shown to have aperipheral frame structure that defines a central opening, the framemembers may be solid segments with no opening defined therethrough inother embodiments. Although the frame members 13 may have differentshapes and sizes, the multi-segment wearable accessory 10 of oneembodiment includes a plurality of identical frame members so as topermit the segments to be attached to any one of the frame members, asdescribed below.

In addition to the frame 12, the multi-segment wearable accessory 10includes a plurality of segments 14. Each segment 14 is configured to beattached, such as by being removably attached, to a respective framemember 13. The segments 14 may be attached to the frame member 13 in anyof various manners, including by means of a snap-fit engagement. Thesegments 14 may provide different functionality as described below andmay be mounted upon the frame 12 in any sequence that is desired. Whilethe segments 14 may provide a wide variety of functionality, examples ofthe functionality provided by some of the segments include segments thatmay provide for telephone functionality in order to support voice calls,music player functionality, game playing functionality, email or othermessaging functionality, Facebook or other social media functionality orthe like.

In one embodiment, a user may therefore select the segments 14 that areto be mounted upon the frame 12 based upon the functionality that theuser desires the multi-segment wearable accessory 10 to have depending,for example, upon the context in which the user will be wearing themulti-segment wearable accessory. Thus, the user may change the segments14 mounted upon the frame 12 of the multi-segment wearable accessory 10of one embodiment from time to time as the context in which the userwill be wearing the multi-wearable accessory changes, such as from awork environment, to an evening out with friends or the like.

As noted above, each segment 14 may provide certain functionality. Assuch, each segment 14 may include or otherwise embody an apparatus 20configured to provide the respective functionality such as shown in FIG.2. While each segment 14 may be independently operable and, as such, mayinclude each of the elements of the apparatus 20 depicted in FIG. 2 anddescribed below, some of the segments may be configured to cooperatewith other segments in order to utilize at least some of the resourcesof the other segments, thereby reducing the resource requirements of therespective segment. For example, a segment 14 may be configured toutilize the processing resources of another segment, thereby reducing oreliminating the processing requirements of the respective segment. Thus,each segment 14 of a multi-segment wearable accessory 10 need notinclude each of the elements of the apparatus 20 depicted in FIG. 2 anddescribed below with the apparatus of FIG. 2 being, instead, describedby way of an example, but not of limitation. In yet another embodiment,the apparatus 20 may be embodied, either entirely or partly, by anotherdevice, such as a mobile terminal, that is in communication with one ormore segments 14 of the multi-segment wearable accessory 10, therebypermitting multiple segments to utilize the same apparatus.

With reference to FIG. 2, an apparatus 20 for controlling the operationsof one or more segments of a multi-segment wearable accessory 10 isillustrated in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.The apparatus 20 of FIG. 2 may be embodied by a segment or may bedistributed across and therefore embodied by a plurality of segments.Still further, the apparatus 20 or at least elements of the apparatusmay be embodied by a remote device, such as a mobile terminal, that isin communication with the segments of the multi-segment wearableapparatus. For purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, theapparatus 20 will be hereinafter described in conjunction with anembodiment in which the apparatus is embodied by a respective segment ofthe multi-segment wearable accessory.

It should also be noted that while FIG. 2 illustrates one example of aconfiguration of an apparatus 20 for controlling the operations of oneor more segments of a multi-segment wearable accessory, numerous otherconfigurations may also be used to implement embodiments of the presentinvention. As such, in some embodiments, although devices or elementsare shown as being in communication with each other, hereinafter suchdevices or elements should be considered to be capable of being embodiedwithin a same device or element and, thus, devices or elements shown incommunication should be understood to alternatively be portions of thesame device or element.

With continued reference to FIG. 2, the apparatus 20 for controlling theoperations of one or more segments of a multi-segment wearable accessorymay include or otherwise be in communication with a processor 22, a userinterface transceiver 24, a communication interface 26, and a memory 28.In some embodiments, the processor 22 (and/or co-processors or any otherprocessing circuitry assisting or otherwise associated with theprocessor) may be in communication with the memory 28 via a bus forpassing information among components of the apparatus 20. The memory 28may include, for example, one or more volatile and/or non-volatilememories. In other words, for example, the memory 28 may be anelectronic storage device (e.g., a computer readable storage medium)comprising gates configured to store data (e.g., bits) that may beretrievable by a machine (e.g., a computing device like the processor22). The memory 28 may be configured to store information, data,content, applications, instructions, or the like for enabling theapparatus 20 to carry out various functions in accordance with anexample embodiment of the present invention. For example, the memory 28could be configured to buffer input data for processing by the processor22. Additionally or alternatively, the memory 28 could be configured tostore instructions for execution by the processor 20.

In some embodiments, the apparatus 20 may be embodied as a chip or chipset. In other words, the apparatus 20 may comprise one or more physicalpackages (e.g., chips) including materials, components and/or wires on astructural assembly (e.g., a baseboard). The structural assembly mayprovide physical strength, conservation of size, and/or limitation ofelectrical interaction for component circuitry included thereon. Theapparatus 20 may therefore, in some cases, be configured to implement anembodiment of the present invention on a single chip or as a single“system on a chip.” As such, in some cases, a chip or chipset mayconstitute means for performing one or more operations for providing thefunctionalities described herein.

The processor 22 may be embodied in a number of different ways. Forexample, the processor 22 may be embodied as one or more of varioushardware processing means such as a coprocessor, a microprocessor, acontroller, a digital signal processor (DSP), a processing element withor without an accompanying DSP, or various other processing circuitryincluding integrated circuits such as, for example, an ASIC (applicationspecific integrated circuit), an FPGA (field programmable gate array), amicrocontroller unit (MCU), a hardware accelerator, a special-purposecomputer chip, or the like. As such, in some embodiments, the processor22 may include one or more processing cores configured to performindependently. A multi-core processor may enable multiprocessing withina single physical package. Additionally or alternatively, the processor22 may include one or more processors configured in tandem via the busto enable independent execution of instructions, pipelining and/ormultithreading.

In an example embodiment, the processor 22 may be configured to executeinstructions stored in the memory 28 or otherwise accessible to theprocessor. Alternatively or additionally, the processor 22 may beconfigured to execute hard coded functionality. As such, whetherconfigured by hardware or software methods, or by a combination thereof,the processor 70 may represent an entity (e.g., physically embodied incircuitry) capable of performing operations according to an embodimentof the present invention while configured accordingly. Thus, forexample, when the processor 22 is embodied as an ASIC, FPGA or the like,the processor may be specifically configured hardware for conducting theoperations described herein. Alternatively, as another example, when theprocessor 22 is embodied as an executor of software instructions, theinstructions may specifically configure the processor to perform thealgorithms and/or operations described herein when the instructions areexecuted. The processor 22 may include, among other things, a clock, anarithmetic logic unit (ALU) and logic gates configured to supportoperation of the processor.

Meanwhile, the communication interface 26 may be any means such as adevice or circuitry embodied in either hardware or a combination ofhardware and software that is configured to receive and/or transmit datafrom/to a network and/or any other device or module in communicationwith the apparatus 20, such as by communicating with the communicationinterface of other segments of the multi-segment wearable accessory. Inthis regard, the communication interface 26 may include, for example, anantenna (or multiple antennas) and supporting hardware and/or softwarefor enabling communications with a wireless communication network.Additionally or alternatively, the communication interface 26 mayinclude the circuitry for interacting with the antenna(s) to causetransmission of signals via the antenna(s) or to handle receipt ofsignals received via the antenna(s). In one embodiment, thecommunication interface 26 is configured to support near fieldcommunications (NFC) or other proximity-based communications techniques.In some environments, the communication interface 26 may alternativelyor also support wired communication. As such, for example, thecommunication interface 26 may include a communication modem and/orother hardware/software for supporting communication via cable, digitalsubscriber line (DSL), universal serial bus (USB) or other mechanisms.

The user interface transceiver 24 may be in communication with theprocessor 22 to receive an indication of a user input and/or to causeprovision of an audible, visual, mechanical or other output to the user.As such, the user interface transceiver 24 may include, for example, adisplay, a touch screens, touch areas, soft keys, a microphone, aspeaker or other input/output mechanisms. Alternatively or additionally,the processor 22 may comprise user interface circuitry configured tocontrol at least some functions of one or more user interface elementssuch as, for example, a speaker, ringer, microphone, display, touchscreen and/or the like. The processor 22 and/or user interface circuitrycomprising the processor may be configured to control one or morefunctions of one or more user interface elements through computerprogram instructions (e.g., software and/or firmware) stored on a memoryaccessible to the processor (e.g., memory 28 and/or the like).

In an example embodiment, the apparatus 20 may include or otherwise bein communication with a touch screen display 30. In different examplecases, the touch screen display 30 may be a two dimensional (2D) orthree dimensional (3D) display. The touch screen display 30 may beembodied as any known touch screen display. Thus, for example, the touchscreen display 30 could be configured to enable touch recognition by anysuitable technique, such as resistive, capacitive, infrared, straingauge, surface wave, optical imaging, dispersive signal technology,acoustic pulse recognition, and/or other techniques. The user interfacetransceiver 24 may be in communication with the touch screen display 30to receive touch inputs at the touch screen display and to analyzeand/or modify a response to such indications based on corresponding useractions that may be inferred or otherwise determined responsive to thetouch inputs.

With continued reference to FIG. 2, in an example embodiment, theapparatus 20 may include a touch screen interface 32. The touch screeninterface 32 may, in some instances, be a portion of the user interfacetransceiver 24. However, in some alternative embodiments, the touchscreen interface 32 may be embodied as the processor 22 or may be aseparate entity controlled by the processor. As such, in someembodiments, the processor 22 may be said to cause, direct or controlthe execution or occurrence of the various functions attributed to thetouch screen interface 32 (and any components of the touch screeninterface) as described herein. The touch screen interface 32 may be anymeans such as a device or circuitry operating in accordance withsoftware or otherwise embodied in hardware or a combination of hardwareand software (e.g., processor 22 operating under software control, theprocessor embodied as an ASIC or FPGA specifically configured to performthe operations described herein, or a combination thereof) therebyconfiguring the device or circuitry to perform the correspondingfunctions of the touch screen interface as described herein. Thus, inexamples in which software is employed, a device or circuitry (e.g., theprocessor 22 in one example) executing the software forms the structureassociated with such means.

The touch screen interface 32 may be configured to receive an input inthe form of a touch event at the touch screen display 30. As such, thetouch screen interface 32 may be in communication with the touch screendisplay 30 to receive user inputs at the touch screen display and tomodify a response to such inputs based on corresponding user actionsthat may be inferred or otherwise determined responsive to the inputs.Following recognition of a touch event, the touch screen interface 32may be configured to determine a classification of the touch event andprovide a corresponding function based on the touch event in somesituations.

In some embodiments, the touch screen interface 32 may include adetector 34, a display manager 36, and a gesture classifier 38. Each ofthe detector 34, the display manager 36, and the gesture classifier 38may be any device or means embodied in either hardware or a combinationof hardware and software configured to perform the correspondingfunctions associated with the detector 34, the display manager 36, andthe gesture classifier 38, respectively, as described herein. In anexemplary embodiment, each of the detector 34, the display manager 36,and the gesture classifier 38 may be controlled by or otherwise embodiedas the processor 22.

The detector 34 may be in communication with the touch screen display 30to receive user inputs in order to recognize and/or determine a touchevent based on each input received at the detector. A touch event may bedefined as a detection of an object, such as a stylus, finger, pen,pencil or other object, coming into contact with a portion of the touchscreen display 30 in a manner sufficient to register as a touch. In thisregard, for example, a touch event could be a detection of pressure onthe screen of the touch screen display 30 above a particular pressurethreshold over a given area. Subsequent to each touch event, thedetector 34 may be further configured to pass along the datacorresponding to the touch event (e.g., location of touch, length oftouch, number of objects touching, touch pressure, touch area, speed ofmovement, direction of movement, length of delay, frequency of touch,etc.) to the gesture classifier 38 for gesture classification. As such,the detector 34 may include or be in communication with one or moreforce sensors configured to measure the amount of touch pressure (e.g.,force over a given area) applied as a result of a touch event, as anexample.

The gesture classifier 38 may be configured to recognize and/ordetermine a corresponding classification of a touch event. In otherwords, the gesture classifier 38 may be configured to perform gestureclassification to classify the touch event as any of a number ofpossible gestures. Some examples of recognizable gestures may include atouch, multi-touch, stroke, character, symbol, shape, pinch event (e.g.,a pinch in or pinch out), rotation and/or the like.

A touch may be defined as a touch event that impacts a single area(without or with minimal movement on the surface of the touch screendisplay 30) and then is removed. A multi-touch may be defined asmultiple touch events sensed concurrently (or nearly concurrently). Astroke may be defined as a touch event followed immediately by motion ofthe object initiating the touch event while the object remains incontact with the touch screen display 30. In other words, the stroke maybe defined by motion following a touch event thereby forming acontinuous, moving touch event defining a moving series of instantaneoustouch positions (e.g., as a drag operation or as a flick operation).Multiple strokes and/or touches may be used to define a particular shapeor sequence of shapes to define a character or symbol.

The gesture classifier 38 may also be configured to communicatedetection information regarding the recognition, detection, and/orclassification of a touch event to the display manager 36. The displaymanager 36 may be configured to provide control over modifications madeto that which is displayed on the touch screen display 30 based on thedetection information received from the detector 34 and gestureclassifications provided by the gesture classifier 38 in accordance withthe responses prescribed for each respective gesture classification andimplementation characteristic determined by the gesture classifier. Inother words, the display manager 36 may configure the display (e.g.,with respect to the content displayed and/or the user interface effectspresented relative to the content displayed) according to the gestureclassification and implementation characteristic classificationdetermined for a given touch event that may be detected at the display.

As noted above, in some embodiments, a wearable segment 14 and, as such,the apparatus 20 embodied by or otherwise associated with the segmentmay be configured to have a dedicated functionality, such as afunctionality that is specific to a particular application, activity,task, or person. For example, a wearable segment may be pre-configuredto display information associated with an e-mail application only or amessaging application only. Another segment may be dedicated to onlyproviding notifications to the user from one or more differentapplications, such as applications associated with other segments (suchas the e-mail-dedicated segment mentioned above) and/or other devices(such as the user's cellular telephone). For example, this segment maydisplay notifications of received e-mails, incoming calls, eventreminders, network connectivity, the detected presence of nearbydevices, etc. Yet another segment may be dedicated to providinginformation regarding a certain person specified by the user. Forexample, the user may configure such a segment to display e-mailmessages, text messages, telephone information (e.g., missed calls),etc. received only from the user's spouse.

In other embodiments, however, a wearable segment 14 and, as such, theapparatus 20 embodied by or otherwise associated with the segment may beconfigured to provide multiple functionalities. For example, a segmentmay be able to execute multiple different applications or to executedifferent applications and also provide notifications generated by thoseand other applications. Thus, in some cases, by selecting at least onesegment that is configured to support multiple functionalities andselecting other segments each having a dedicated functionality, thefunctionality of the dedicated segments may be at least partiallycontrolled by the multi-functional segment(s). In other words, one ofthe segments (e.g., a multi-functional segment) may, in some cases,coordinate the behavior of other segments on the wearable accessory.

Once the multi-segment wearable accessory 10 has been assembled byattaching the segments 14 that provide the desired functionality to theframe 12, the segments of one embodiment may discover or identify theother segments of the multi-segment wearable accessory. In this regard,the segments 14 may communicate with one another via the respectivecommunication interfaces 26, such as via respective NFC interfaces. Assuch, the segments 14 may identify other segments that comprise themulti-segment wearable accessory 10 as well as the relative positions ofthe segments, such as the segments that are adjacent to one another orspaced apart from one another, as described further below. Further, thesegments 14 of one embodiment may identify the functionality provided bythe other segments during this discovery process.

In one embodiment, the plurality of segments 14 of a multi-segmentwearable accessory 10 may cooperate with one another in order to providevarious functions to the user. In this regard, the segments 14 mayinteract in various manners. For example, one of the segments 14 may beconsidered a master segment and, as such, may control the operations andinteractions of the other segments, which would be considered slavesegments in this embodiment. Alternatively, control of the operations ofthe plurality of segments 14 of a multi-segment wearable accessory 10may be distributed with each or at least a plurality of the segments ofthe multi-segment wearable accessory controlling at least some of theoperations. Even in an instance in which the control of the segments ofa multi-segment wearable accessory 10 is distributed such that eachsegment 14 controls its own operations, the plurality of segments maystill be configured to cooperate with one in other in order to provideimproved performance for the user, as will be described below.

In this regard, the arrangement of multiple independent segments 14 on awearable accessory 10, such as the bracelet shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, mayallow the functionality of each segment to be modified or enhanced basedon the association of the particular segment with other segments mountedto the wearable accessory. For example, the touch display 30 of onesegment 14 may, in some cases, serve as an extension of the display ofan adjacent segment, as described in greater detail below. Moreover, therelationship of a particular segment 14 to the wearable accessory 10 asa whole and/or to the user (e.g., the orientation and/or position of thesegment with respect to an axis Y of the wearable accessory or to theuser's gaze) may affect the content that is display on the particularsegment and/or the presentation of such content.

In this regard, the apparatus 20 associated with each segment 14 mayinclude one or more sensors 40 that are configured to allow one or morefirst segments of a multi-segment wearable accessory 10 to bedistinguished from one or more second segments of the wearableaccessory. For example, each segment 14 may have one or moremagnetometers (e.g., to detect an angle of the segment with respect tothe earth's gravitational field), accelerometers (e.g., to detectmovement of the segment as the user's arm is moved about), and touch orcontact sensors (e.g., to detect a contact with or movement between asegment and the user). Moreover, each segment 14 may be configured tocommunicate with nearby segments, such as via near field communicationtechniques supported by the communication interface 26, to share dataregarding the respective segment's orientation and position. Usinginformation received from nearby segments 14, each segment, such as theprocessor 22 associated with each segment, may determine its distancefrom a common Y-axis (e.g., the distance between its own y-axis and thecommon Y-axis).

For example, with reference to FIG. 4, a wearable accessory 10 accordingto one example embodiment may include six segments 14, labeled forexplanatory purposes in FIG. 4 as segments A-F. Each segment 14 maydefine its own y-axis and may, as a result of being mounted to the frame12, share a common Y-axis (which may, e.g., be indicative of an angle ofthe wearer's arm 50, as shown in FIG. 3). By receiving data from nearbysegments 14, the processor 22 associated with each segment may determinewhether the respective segment is part of a wearable accessory 10 andwhich other segments are also a part of the same wearable accessory. Forexample, the processor 22 associated with segment A may determine thelocation of the common Y-axis by receiving data from segments B-Fregarding the location of their respective y-axes and mathematicallydetermining the median Y-axis of all the segments. The processor 22associated with segment A may then calculate the distance d between itsown y-axis and this median Y-axis and share this information with othersegments, receiving their information regarding the distance d betweentheir own y-axes and the median Y-axis in turn (e.g., using magnetometermeasurements). If the distance d between a given segment's y-axis andthe median Y-axis of all of the segments is sufficiently small (e.g.,less than a predetermined distance), that segment, such as the processor22 associated with the segment, may determine that it is part of thewearable accessory 10. In this way, the processor 22 associated witheach segment 14 may determine the respective segment's membership withthe wearable accessory 10 and may share this data with other segments.In some cases, the magnetometer data may be enhanced by coupling suchmeasurements with accelerometer measurements from each of the segments(e.g., as an indication of which segments are moving in relatively thesame direction at relatively the same speed). Moreover, thedetermination of which segments 14 are members of the same wearableaccessory 10 may be refreshed or recalculated periodically or upon theoccurrence of a predetermined event (such as a sudden change indirection or motion).

In addition, the rotation of each segment 14 with respect to the commonY-axis may be determined by the respective processor 22. Referring toFIGS. 3 and 4, when the user's arm is in a horizontal position (such asthe position the user might take when looking at the display 16 of atopmost segment 14 (segment A in FIG. 4), the topmost segment A may beconsidered to be at an angle closest to 0° with respect to the commonY-axis. In a six-segment accessory, as depicted for purposes of example,segment B and segment F may be considered to be at an angle ofapproximately 60° and 300°, respectively; segment C and segment E may beconsidered to be at an angle of approximately 120° and 240°, and segmentD may be considered to be at an angle of approximately 180°. The angleof each segment 14 may be determined by the processor 22 using amagnetometer and accelerometer, for example, and the determined anglesmay be used to discern a sequential ordering of the multiple segments(A-F).

Using the information calculated and determined regarding each segment'smembership with the wearable accessory 10, its relative rotation aboutthe common Y-axis, and its orientation about its own y-axis, the pose ofthe wearable accessory 10 and the user's arm 50 may be determined by theprocessor 22. In this regard, pose information may thus include how thedifferent segments 14 are being rotated about the wrist (or commonY-axis) and at what angle the user's arm 50 is positioned (e.g.,pointing down at the user's sides or held up horizontally for viewingthe wearable accessory).

In some embodiments, one or more of the segments 14 may include aninertial measurement unit (IMU) or other electronic device that measuresand provides data regarding a segment's velocity, orientation, andgravitational forces. With reference to FIG. 17, for example, an IMU 100may include one or more accelerometers 110, gyroscopes 120, and/ormagnetometers 130 that are configured to sense a corresponding segment'smovement with response to a reference position.

Based on the position (e.g., distance from the Y-axis, rotation,orientation, and/or order) relative to the user and/or relative to othersegments 14, one or more of the segments may be configured to operate ina manner that is different from how other segments operate. For example,in one embodiment, private information may be presented on therespective displays 30 of one or more first segments, whereasnon-private information may be presented on the respective displays ofone or more second segments. With reference to FIG. 4, the segments 14closest to the user's gaze (represented by the eye 55) may be consideredthe first segments (e.g., segments F, A, and B), whereas theoppositely-located segments farthest from the user's gaze (in this case,segments C, D, and E, which are obscured from the user's line of sight)may be considered the second segments. Thus, in the depicted example,the first segments F, A, and B may be caused by the respectiveprocessors 22 to display private information, such as e-mail messages,text messages, or other information designated by the user as beingprivate. The second segments C, D, and E, on the other hand, may becaused by the respective processors 22 to display non-privateinformation. Such information may include, for example, weatherinformation, the time, an idle or lock screen, or advertisementinformation.

As such, the private information may only be seen by the user by virtueof the position of the respective segments upon which the privateinformation is displayed, while the non-private information may be seenby people other than the user. Although the example above describesthree first segments for displaying private information and three secondsegments for displaying non-private information, the private informationmay be displayed on one or two of the segments in the user's direct lineof sight (e.g., segments A and B) while the non-private information maybe displayed on all or fewer than all of the remaining segments.

In other embodiments, one or more of the second segments, rather thanbeing caused to display non-private information, may be controlled bythe respective processors 22 to have their displays 30 dimmed, turnedoff, or otherwise modified to reduce the power consumption of the secondsegment(s) relative to the one or more first segments. In this way,segments that are not considered to be useful to the user (e.g., are notin the user's direct line of sight or are obscured from being viewed bythe user) may enter a power saving mode in which, for example, theirrespective displays 30 are not presenting any information to the user orto others.

In still other cases, input received via the touch screen display 30 ofone or more second segments may be provided to the processor 20associated with one or more second segments such that the processorassociated with the one or more second segments may at least partiallycontrol the operation of the one or more first segments based on thereceived user input. Referring again to FIG. 4, for example, one or moreof segments C, D, and E may be configured to receive touch inputs ontheir respective displays 30 to at least partially control one or moreof segments F, A, and B. For example, touch inputs received on the touchdisplay 30 of segment D may at least partially control the oppositesegment, segment A. Thus, the user may zoom in on certain contentdisplayed on segment A, for example, by applying a pinch out input (amulti-touch input in which the touch events causing the multi-touch arerelatively close together, followed by movement of the multi-touchinputs substantially away from each other) to the touch display ofsegment D. By using segment D in this example to receive touch inputs onbehalf of segment A, the information displayed on segment A may remainfully visible to the user during receipt of the input, rather than beobscured from view by the presence of the user's fingers on the displayof segment A in this example.

Although each segment 14 of the wearable accessory 10 may be configuredto provide different functionality to the user, in some cases, throughcommunication between and among the different segments, such as via NFCsupported by the respective communication interfaces 26, and by virtueof their membership to the same wearable accessory and their relativepositions within the wearable accessory, two or more segments may shareat least portions of their respective functionality. For example, insome cases, two adjacent segments may cooperate to present the samecontent across the two respective displays 30 (e.g., acting as one,larger display), or one segment may instruct an adjacent segmentregarding the content to be displayed by the adjacent segment.

Accordingly, in one embodiment, touch input may be received via the userinterface transceivers 24 of at least first and second segments of amulti-segment wearable accessory 10, and a determination may be made,such as by the touch screen interface 32, the processor 22 or the like,that the touch input associated with the second segment is movingrelative to the touch input associated with the first segment. Apresentation of a window that is presented at least partially on thedisplay of the first segment may then be modified based upon themovement of the touch input associated with the second segment.

For example, touch inputs may be received to expand an application fromone segment onto additional segments (e.g., by causing the size of thewindow presented on the display to be increased so as to be presented bythe displays on both the first and second segments) using amulti-segment, multi-touch pinch out input, as depicted schematically inFIG. 5. In this regard, the first touch input (e.g., applied by a firstfinger of the user, shown by the encircled 1) may be placed on contentdisplayed via a first segment A, and a second touch input (e.g., appliedby a second finger of the user, shown by the encircled 2) may be placedon a different segment B, where the first touch input specifies theapplication or content to be expanded and the second touch inputspecifies the segment into which the content should be expanded. Thesecond touch input may then be moved away from the location of the firsttouch input (e.g., while the first touch input remains stationary, asshown in FIG. 5), and once the second touch input passes a certainthreshold (e.g., two-thirds of the display screen width), the touchinputs may be removed and the expansion will be executed. In some cases,removing the touch inputs before the threshold is passed may cancel theexpansion operation.

In embodiments in which multiple applications or portions of content aredisplayed on the same segment selected for expansion, the contentcorresponding to the location of the first touch input may determinewhich content is to be expanded, and the other content may remainunexpanded on the first segment.

In cases where content was formerly presented on the display of thesecond segment (e.g., segment B), this content may in some instances beobscured by the overlaying of the content expanded from segment A, asillustrated in FIG. 5A. In other instances, however, the contentpresented on the display of the second segment B prior to the expansionof the content from the first segment A (e.g., prior to the increase insize of the window displayed on segment A) may be displaced by thecontent from segment A, in effect pushing the former content of B in adirection away from segment A. This is illustrated in FIG. 5B. In somecases, the displaced content may, in turn, displace content that ispresented on the next adjacent segment (e.g., segment C) or some othersubsequent segment. As such, each window of content may, in some cases,be considered a virtual segment, with multiple virtual segmentspotentially sharing the same physical segment 14 through the overlay ofone virtual segment atop another virtual segment, as will be describedin greater detail below.

In still other embodiments, touch inputs may be received via the touchscreen displays 30 of first, second, and third segments (e.g., segmentsA, B, and C, as depicted in FIG. 6). Upon determining that the touchinput 2 associated with the second segment (segment A) and the touchinput 3 associated with the third segment (segment C) are movingrelative to the touch input associated with the first segment (segmentB), the presentation of the window that is presented at least partiallyby the first segment (segment B) may be modified based upon movement ofthe touch inputs associated with the second and third segments. Thus, inthis example, as a result of the touch input 3 being additionallyreceived via the third segment C, the content specified in segment B maybe expanded across all three segments, A, B, and C.

Other forms and combinations of touch inputs may invoke otheroperations, in addition to the expand operation described above. Turningto FIG. 7, for example, a collapse operation may be invoked across twoor more segments presenting an expanded application via their respectivedisplays to reverse the expand operation. In a collapse operation, thefirst touch input 1 may specify the segment to which the expandedoperation will be collapsed (segment A in the depicted embodiment),while the second touch input 2 may specify the segment from which theapplication is to be removed (segment B in the example illustrated). Incases such as that shown in FIGS. 6 and 6A, where the application wasexpanded across more than two segments, collapsing the first and secondsegments of the application may have different semantics than collapsingthe second and third segments. For example, referring to FIG. 6A, wheresegment A presents textual content, segment B presents other textualcontent, and segment C presents icons, collapsing segment A and segmentB may result in the presentation of one segment presenting textualinformation and another segment presenting the icon information.Collapsing segment B and segment C, however, may result in a modifiedpresentation, in which the textual content formerly presented in segmentA would continue to be presented in that segment, and the textualcontent and the icon content of segments B and C, respectively, would bepresented together (e.g., in segment B) in combined form.

Yet another operation that may be supported by one or more of thesegments may be a swap operation, in which the applications on twosegments can be exchanged (e.g., each application being presented on thedisplay of the other segment). In this case, touch inputs may bereceived via the touch displays 30 of at least first and second segmentsof the multi-segment wearable accessory 10, and the determination may bemade by the touchscreen interface 32, the processor 22 or the like thatthe touch inputs represent a rotational gesture. Information that ispresented upon the display of the first segment prior to the rotationalgesture may then be caused to be presented upon the display of thesecond segment following the rotational gesture, and information that ispresented upon the second segment prior to the rotational gesture may becaused to be presented upon the first segment following the rotationalgesture. The touch inputs involved in a swap operation as describedabove are illustrated in FIG. 8, and the result of a swap operation isshown in FIG. 8A.

With reference to FIG. 9, rather than apply the expand operationdescribed above sequentially to expand an application to multiplesegments (e.g., by expanding from segment A to segment B, then fromsegment B to segment C, etc.), an application may be expanded directlyto all available segments using three touch inputs that are appliedsubstantially simultaneously. As shown in FIG. 9, a first touch input 1may be received by a first segment (segment B); a second touch input 2may be received by a second segment (segment A); and a third touch input3 may be received by a third segment (segment C), in the manner of achord. The first touch input 1 may specify the application or contentthat the user wishes to expand to all of the segments, whereas thesecond and third inputs 2, 3 may specify adjacent segments (e.g., oneimmediately above and one immediately below the designated content to beexpanded) to which the content is to be expanded. When one of the touchinputs is subsequently removed, the expand all operation may be executedacross all of the segments, including segments not involved in receivingany of the three touch inputs.

In cases in which the application requires fewer screens than there aresegments available, the application may expand to its maximum state, andthe remaining segments may show their original content. In other cases,in which the application has more screens than there are segmentsavailable, the application may expand to fill all available segments,with the remaining segments becoming virtual segments that are accessedin other ways, as described below.

The expand all operation may be pre-configured to have a set duration,such that the expanded application collapses to its original segmentafter the passage of a predetermined amount of time. In some cases,however, one or more segments may be collapsed by using a sequence ofrapid back and forth wrist rotations, similar to the shaking action auser may make when attempting to re-seat a watch on his wrist. In thisregard, wrist angle data in the form of pose information as describedabove may be used, in addition to accelerometer data indicating a rapidsequence of positive and negative changes in the angle of the segmentswith respect to the Y-axis. Furthermore, the collapse all operation mayonly be configured to be executed if the back and forth wrist rotationsdescribed above occur when the user's arm is approximately horizontal(e.g., within 30° of being horizontal).

As noted above, in some embodiments, each screen presented on or capableof being presented on the display of a segment may be considered avirtual segment, and the number of virtual segments may be greater thanthe number of physical segments that are available to display thevirtual segments. In this case, one or more of the virtual segments maybe maintained on or associated with one or more of the segments in anoverlaid configuration, such that, for example, a topmost virtualsegment is displayed for viewing while another virtual segment liesbelow the topmost virtual segment, hidden from the user's view.

Accordingly, information may thus be displayed upon a plurality ofsegments of the multi-segment wearable accessory 10, and in response torotation of the multi-segment wearable accessory 10 about the user'swrist 50 (FIG. 3), such as detected by a touch sensor as describedabove, the information displayed upon a respective segment may be causedto change. For example, the information displayed upon a segment,representing a virtual segment, may be sequentially associated with eachsegment of the multi-segment wearable accessory in response to rotationof the multi-segment wearable accessory.

Referring to FIGS. 10A and 10B, for example, nine virtual segments(V1-V9) may be provided, whereas the wearable accessory 10 of theillustrated example only has six physical segments (A-F). Segments A-Fin this example would thus be displaying virtual segments V1-V6, with V7being associated with segment A, but unseen (e.g., hidden behind V1), V8being associated with segment B, and V9 being associated with segment C.In this case, to view virtual segments that are hidden or otherwiseobscured behind other, visible virtual segments (such as V7-V9), theuser may rotate the wearable accessory 10 from the position shown inFIG. 10A to the position shown in FIG. 10B, which would serve tosequentially shift which of the virtual segments are visible to theuser. As a result, virtual segment V7 would now be visible on physicalsegment A, while formerly visible virtual segment V1 would now be hiddenbehind virtual segment V7. Further rotation in the same manner wouldthus expose virtual segment V8, while removing virtual segment V2 fromview, and so on, such that the user may cycle through all the virtualsegments by rotating the wearable accessory about the Y-axis. In someembodiments, a user may be able to rotate the wearable accessorycontinually, and with each rotation the user would view new content.This may be used, for example, to view long textual content (e.g., alengthy e-mail message) or may be used for interaction widgets that mayrely on the continuous circular nature of the particular depictedwearable accessory 10.

Thus, in some embodiments, an apparatus may be provided that includes atleast one processor and at least one memory including computer programcode. With continued reference to FIGS. 10A-10C, the at least one memoryand the computer program code may be configured to, with the processor,cause the apparatus to at least associate first content with a segmentof a multi-segment wearable accessory and to associate second contentwith the same segment. Each of the first and second content would thusrepresent a virtual segment. In other words, in the depicted embodimentof FIGS. 10A-10C, virtual segment V1 may represent first content that isassociated with segment A, and virtual segment V7 may represent secondcontent that is associated with segment A. Likewise, V2 and V8 mayrepresent first and second content, respectively, that is associatedwith segment B, and so on.

The apparatus may be caused (e.g., via the processor, the at least onememory, and the computer program code) to cause one of the virtualsegments to be presented on a display of the segment. In FIG. 10A, forexample, where the first-listed virtual segment (top to bottom) is thevirtual segment that is presented on the display as noted above, virtualsegment V1 is presented on the display of segment A, virtual segment V2is presented on the display of segment B, etc. The at least one memoryand the computer program code may be configured to, with the processor,cause the apparatus to, in response to rotation of the multi-segmentwearable accessory, determine whether to replace the virtual segmentbeing presented with presentation of the other virtual segment (e.g.,another associated virtual segment). In the case of segment A in FIG.10A, for example, a determination may be made as to whether virtualsegment V1 should be replaced by presenting virtual segment V7 in itsplace.

As noted above, in some embodiments, one of the segments may beconsidered a master segment and, as such, may control the operations andinteractions of the other segments, which would be considered slavesegments. In such a centralized scenario, the master segment may receivenotifications or indications (e.g., signals) from other segments, mayprocess these indications, and may in turn send out commands to theslave segments directing that the slave segments perform certainfunctions. Thus, in an instance in which the master segment is a segmentother than segment A in the depicted embodiment and the apparatus isembodied by the master segment, the master segment may associate firstcontent (represented by virtual segment V1) and second content(represented by virtual segment V7) with segment A by transmitting suchcontent to segment A or otherwise instructing segment A regarding theassociation. The master segment may further transmit signals to segmentA instructing segment A to present one or the other of the virtualsegments on its display. In FIG. 10A, for example, the master segmentmay instruct segment A to present virtual segment V1 on its display. Themaster segment may further determine whether to replace the virtualsegment being presented (virtual segment V1 in FIG. 10A) with the othervirtual segment (virtual segment V7, as shown in FIG. 10B) in responseto detecting rotation of the accessory (from the pose shown in FIG. 10Ato that shown in FIG. 10B) and may transmit signals to segment Ainstructing the replacement if so determined.

In an instance in which the master segment is a segment other thansegment A, as described above, but the apparatus is embodied by segmentA (the slave segment), segment A may associate first content and secondcontent, each representing virtual segments, with segment A and mayfurther cause one of the virtual segments (e.g., virtual segment V1 inFIG. 10A) to be presented on its display upon receiving the instructionto do so from the master segment. Segment A may further determinewhether to replace the virtual segment being presented (virtual segmentV1 in FIG. 10A) with the other virtual segment (virtual segment V7) byreceiving the instruction to do so (e.g., receiving signals) from themaster segment.

Alternatively, as also noted above, control of the operations of theplurality of segments 14 of a multi-segment wearable accessory 10 may bedistributed with each or at least a plurality of the segments of themulti-segment wearable accessory controlling at least some of theoperations. Under a distributed scenario, each segment of the wearableaccessory may multicast events to the other segments, and each segmentmay thus respond accordingly. In other words, each segment may associateone or more virtual segments with itself and may cause one of thevirtual segments to be presented on its display. Each segment mayfurther determine whether to replace the virtual segment it is currentlypresenting with presentation of the other associated virtual segment inresponse to rotation of the multi-segment wearable accessory, asdescribed below. In this regard, each segment may multicast itsrespective orientation, association, and/or the virtual segments beingpresented to the other segments, such that each segment is aware of thecontent being presented via other segments and the replacement ofcontent being presented on any given segment can be coordinated.

Regardless of which scenario is employed (centralized or distributed) orin which segment or segments the apparatus is embodied, the at least onememory and the computer program code may be further configured to, withthe processor, cause the apparatus to determine whether to replace thevirtual segment being presented with the presentation of the otherassociated virtual segment based at least partially on a location of thedisplay of the segment with respect to the user's line of sight. Forexample, the at least one memory and the computer program code may beconfigured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to cause thevirtual segment being presented to be replaced with the presentation ofthe other virtual segment in an instance in which the display of thesegment is outside the user's line of sight.

In FIG. 10A, for example, segment D is closest to the user's line ofsight (represented by the eye 55), and segment A is farthest from theuser's line of sight. In practical terms, the user in FIG. 10A has thewearable accessory positioned such that he or she is looking at segmentD full-on and may have a partial view of the displays of segments E andC. The user in FIG. 10A may not be able to see the displays of segmentsF, A, or B, with display segment A being the farthest away. In otherwords, the user would have to rotate the wearable accessory 10 to a muchgreater extent (e.g., through a larger angle of rotation) to view thedisplay of segment A as compared to the extent of rotation that would berequired to view the displays of any of the other segments. Thus, inthis example, the determination may be made to replace the virtualsegment V1 being presented on the display of segment A with the othervirtual segment V7 in response to rotation of the wearable accessory, asshown in FIG. 10B. In other words, the discontinuity in virtual segmentsmay be located between segments F and A, which are outside the user'sline of sight in FIG. 10A.

In some cases, the at least one memory and the computer program code maybe further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus todetect rotation of the multi-segment wearable accessory via an inertialmeasurement unit (IMU), such as the IMU 100 shown in FIG. 17 anddescribed above. As such, data obtained from the IMU 100 and its sensors110, 120, 130 may be used to calculate the relative position of eachsegment with respect to the user and the user's line of sight.

The apparatus may, in some embodiments, be caused (e.g., via theprocessor, the at least one memory, and the computer program code) toassociate additional virtual segments with additional segments of themulti-segment wearable accessory, such that a total number of virtualsegments of the multi-segment wearable accessory is greater than a totalnumber of segments of the multi-segment wearable accessory. For example,in FIGS. 10A-10C, there is a total of 9 virtual segments (V1-V9), ascompared to a total of 6 segments (A-F). Each virtual segment beingpresented on a display of a respective segment may be sequentiallyreplaced with presentation of another virtual segment associated withthe respective segment. In other words, only one of the segments (A-F)may switch from presenting the content of one virtual segment to thecontent of another virtual segment at a time (e.g., in response to eachrotation of the accessory), with each rotation resulting in the nextadjacent segment changing the virtual segment that it is presenting.Thus, when the user rotates the wearable accessory from the pose shownin FIG. 10A to the pose shown in FIG. 10B, the virtual segment V1presented on the display of segment A may be replaced with thepresentation of virtual segment V7. For a subsequent rotation, shown inFIG. 10C, the virtual segment V2 presented on the display of segment B(as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B) may be replaced with the presentation ofvirtual segment V8.

Accordingly, in some embodiments, the at least one memory and thecomputer program code may be configured to, with the processor, causethe apparatus to present virtual segments such that virtual segmentsbeing presented on displays of adjacent segments provide a user withcontinuous scrolling of content. In other words, the content shown onthe display of each segment (or at least some of the adjacent segments)may be related, such that the content “flows” from one segment to anadjacent segment to the next adjacent segment, and so on. This mayoccur, for example, in the event the user is viewing long textualcontent (e.g., an e-mail or journal article) that requires multipledisplays to present the entire length of the content to the user. In acase as described above with reference to FIG. 10A in which thediscontinuity in the presentation of virtual segments is located betweensegments F and A, the user would always see the correct set ofcontinuous segments (e.g., because the updating of virtual segments isoccurring outside the user's line of sight, between segments F and A inthis example). To see all of the segments, the user would have to rotatethe device more than 360°. In the depicted embodiment, in which thereare 9 virtual segments associated with 6 (physical) segments, the userwould be required to rotate the wearable accessory through 540° to viewall of the virtual segments. By extension, it would be possible for an“infinite” number of virtual segments to be sequentially associated withand/or sequentially presented on the displays of each consecutivesegment, with segments continually updating as to which virtual segmentis presented on their respective displays, thereby providing continuousscrolling of content. Thus, although the depicted example anddescription above references 9 virtual segments associated with 6segments, any number of virtual segments may be associated with thesegments, such that, for example, 3, 4, 5, or more virtual segments maybe associated with any given segment of the wearable accessory.

In still other embodiments, the at least one memory and the computerprogram code may, in some embodiments, be configured to, with theprocessor, further cause the apparatus to, in response to rotation ofthe multi-segment wearable accessory, determine whether to power downthe display of the segment. For example, the pose of the wearableaccessory, such as determined via an IMU, may allow certain segmentsthat are not in the user's line of sight to be “powered down” (e.g., bydimming, shutting off, or otherwise reducing the use of their respectivedisplays) to conserve power. For example, by rotating the wearableaccessory (e.g., either by rotating the wearable accessory with respectto the user's wrist or rotating the user's wrist itself), the respectivedisplay power states of each segment may be adjusted accordingly.

Referring now to FIG. 11, in some embodiments, an angle α between atleast two segments 14 (e.g., segment A and segment B) of themulti-segment wearable accessory 10 may be determined, such as by theprocessor 22 based upon input from the sensor 40, and one or more of thesegments may be caused to operate in a manner that is at least partiallydependent upon the angle between the at least two segments. For example,as between the configuration depicted in FIG. 11, where the wearableaccessory 10 is not being worn, but is instead doubled onto itself andresting on a flat surface, the angle α between segments A, B, and C maybe determined to be 0°, whereas the corresponding angle between the samesegments in the configuration shown in FIG. 4, for example (worn by theuser) may be approximately 60°. Based on this determined angle, segmentsA, B, and C in FIG. 4 may be configured to have separate functionality,for example each segment being dedicated to a particular application.The same segments when in the configuration of FIG. 11, however, may becaused to exhibit different behavior than in FIG. 4, such as by actingas a single display for one particular application or by presenting dateand time information across one or more of the respective displays.

Although the examples and descriptions provided above involve segments14 that are adaptable, or able to have their respective functionalitymodified based on their relative position in the wearable accessoryand/or communication with other remote devices, in some cases one ormore segments may be used in a wearable accessory that arenon-adaptable, or not configured to have modified functionality. In suchcases, the operations described above regarding interaction orinformation exchange between adjacent segments may apply between theclosest adaptable segments, skipping over any intervening non-adaptablesegments. As such, the next closest adaptable segment to a particularsegment may be considered its “adjacent” segment in the context of theexamples provided above.

In some embodiments, a segment 14 of the wearable accessory 10 may bepositioned in a predefined orientation with respect to another device,such as a mobile phone, so as to cause certain information (such as theinformation displayed on the mobile phone) to be transferred to orshared with the respective segment. For example, the orientation sensingtechniques described above may be used to detect that the other device(e.g., the mobile phone) is aligned with a particular segment (e.g., thetouch display of the mobile phone is substantially parallel to the touchdisplay 16 of the particular segment 14). This may occur, for example,when the device is held against or close to a segment 14 of the wearableaccessory, such that the orientation of the device matches or at leastapproximates the orientation of the respective segment.

Once the respective segment 14 is selected in this way, the user maythen move the device away from the wearable accessory, while stillmaintaining the communications link established with that particularsegment. Such a link may allow the user to apply touch inputs to thelinked segment (or other segments) to transfer or share contentpresented on the display of the segment to or with the linked device, orvice versa. In still other embodiments, the linked device may be used toconfigure certain features of the linked segment or the wearableaccessory in general.

FIGS. 12-16 illustrate flowcharts of systems, methods, and computerprogram products according to example embodiments of the invention. Itwill be understood that each block of the flowchart, and combinations ofblocks in the flowchart, may be implemented by various means, such ashardware, firmware, processor, circuitry, and/or other devicesassociated with execution of software including one or more computerprogram instructions. For example, one or more of the proceduresdescribed above may be embodied by computer program instructions. Inthis regard, the computer program instructions which embody theprocedures described above may be stored by a memory device of anapparatus employing an embodiment of the present invention and executedby a processor in the apparatus. As will be appreciated, any suchcomputer program instructions may be loaded onto a computer or otherprogrammable apparatus (e.g., hardware) to produce a machine, such thatthe resulting computer or other programmable apparatus implements thefunctions specified in the flowchart block(s). These computer programinstructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that maydirect a computer or other programmable apparatus to function in aparticular manner, such that the instructions stored in thecomputer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture the executionof which implements the function specified in the flowchart block(s).The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer orother programmable apparatus to cause a series of operations to beperformed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce acomputer-implemented process such that the instructions which execute onthe computer or other programmable apparatus provide operations forimplementing the functions specified in the flowchart block(s).

Accordingly, blocks of the flowchart support combinations of means forperforming the specified functions, combinations of operations forperforming the specified functions, and program instruction means forperforming the specified functions. It will also be understood that oneor more blocks of the flowchart, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based computersystems which perform the specified functions, or combinations ofspecial purpose hardware and computer instructions.

In this regard, one embodiment of a method for providing content on amulti-segment wearable accessory, as shown in FIG. 12, includesdistinguishing one or more first segments of a multi-segment wearableaccessory that have a predefined orientation relative to the user fromone or more second segments of the multi-segment wearable accessory thathave a different orientation relative to the user at Block 200. One ormore of the first segments may be caused to operate different than theone or more second segments at Block 210, as described above andillustrated in the referenced figures.

In another embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 13, touch input may bereceived via at least first and second segments of a multi-segmentwearable accessory at Block 250, and a determination may be made thatthe touch input associated with the second segment is moving relative tothe touch input associated with the first segment at Block 260. Themethod and computer program product may further cause a presentation ofa window that is presented at least partially by the first segment to bemodified based upon movement of the touch input associated with thesecond segment at Block 270. In some cases, at least some informationpresented upon the second segment prior to increasing a size of thewindow may be caused to be moved to another segment adjacent the secondsegment at Block 280.

In still other embodiments, depicted in FIG. 14, touch input may bereceived via at least first and second segments of a multi-segmentwearable accessory at Block 300, and a determination may be made thatthe touch input represents a rotational gesture at Block 310. The methodand computer program product may further cause information that ispresented upon the first segment prior to the rotational gesture to bepresented upon the second segment following the rotational gesture atBlock 330 and may further cause information that is presented upon thesecond segment prior to the rotational gesture to be presented upon thefirst segment following the rotational gesture at Block 340.

With reference to FIG. 15, in some embodiments, first content and secondcontent may be associated with a segment of a multi-segment wearableaccessory at Blocks 400 and 410, with each of the first and secondcontent representing a virtual segment. The method and computer programproduct may further cause one of the virtual segments to be presented ona display of the segment at Block 420, and, in response to rotation ofthe multi-segment wearable accessory, a determination may be made as towhether to replace the virtual segment being presented with presentationof the other virtual segment at Block 430.

In some cases, the determination as to whether to replace the virtualsegment being presented with the presentation of the other virtualsegment may be based at least partially on a location of the display ofthe segment with respect to a user's line of sight. For example, thevirtual segment being presented may be replaced with the presentation ofthe other virtual segment in an instance in which the display of thesegment is outside the user's line of sight. Rotation of themulti-segment wearable accessory may be detected via an inertialmeasurement unit (IMU) at Block 440.

In some embodiments, additional virtual segments may be associated withadditional segments of the multi-segment wearable accessory, such that atotal number of virtual segments of the multi-segment wearable accessoryis greater than a total number of segments of the multi-segment wearableaccessory. Each virtual segment being presented on a display of arespective segment may thus be sequentially replaced with presentationof another virtual segment associated with the respective segment, asdescribed above. Furthermore, virtual segments may be presented suchthat virtual segments being presented on displays of adjacent segmentsprovide a user with continuous scrolling of content. In some cases, inresponse to rotation of the multi-segment wearable accessory, adetermination may be made as to whether to power down the display of thesegment at Block 445.

Referring to FIG. 16, in still other embodiments, an angle between atleast two segments of a multi-segment wearable accessory may bedetermined, as described above, at Block 450. One or more of thesegments may then be caused to operate in a manner that is at leastpartially dependent upon the angle between the at least two segments atBlock 460.

In some embodiments, certain ones of the operations above may bemodified or further amplified as described below. Furthermore, in someembodiments, additional optional operations may be included, someexamples of which are shown in dashed lines in FIG. 13. Modifications,additions, or amplifications to the operations above may be performed inany order and in any combination.

In an example embodiment, an apparatus for performing the methods ofFIGS. 12-16 above may comprise a processor (e.g., the processor 22 ofFIG. 2) configured to perform some or each of the operations (200-460)described above. The processor may, for example, be configured toperform the operations (200-460) by performing hardware implementedlogical functions, executing stored instructions, or executingalgorithms for performing each of the operations. Alternatively, theapparatus may comprise means for performing each of the operationsdescribed above. In this regard, according to an example embodiment,examples of means for performing at least portions of operations 200,250, 300, 445, and 450 may comprise, for example, the processor 22, theuser interface transceiver 24, the sensor 40, the IMU 100 and/or adevice or circuit for executing instructions or executing an algorithmfor processing information as described above. Examples of means forperforming operations 210, 270, 280, 330, 340, and 460 may comprise, forexample, the processor 22, the user interface transceiver 24, and/or adevice or circuit for executing instructions or executing an algorithmfor processing information as described above. Examples of means forperforming operations 400 and 410 may comprise, for example, theprocessor 22, the communication interface 26, the memory device 28,and/or a device or circuit for executing instructions or executing analgorithm for processing information as described above. Examples ofmeans for performing operation 440 may comprise, for example, theprocessor 22, the communication interface 26, the IMU 100, and/or adevice or circuit for executing instructions or executing an algorithmfor processing information as described above. Examples of means forperforming operation 420 may comprise, for example, the processor 22,the user interface transceiver 24, the communication interface 26,and/or a device or circuit for executing instructions or executing analgorithm for processing information as described above. Examples ofmeans for performing operations 260, 310, and 430 may comprise, forexample, the processor 22, the memory device 28, and/or a device orcircuit for executing instructions or executing an algorithm forprocessing information as described above.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forthherein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which theseinventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in theforegoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is tobe understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specificembodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments areintended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.Moreover, although the foregoing descriptions and the associateddrawings describe example embodiments in the context of certain examplecombinations of elements and/or functions, it should be appreciated thatdifferent combinations of elements and/or functions may be provided byalternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appendedclaims. In this regard, for example, different combinations of elementsand/or functions than those explicitly described above are alsocontemplated as may be set forth in some of the appended claims. Forexample, although the description and figures provide examples ofembodiments in which each segment 14 is removable from the frame 12 ofthe wearable accessory 10, in other embodiments one or more of thesegments may be integral to or permanently affixed to the frame, suchthat those segments are not removable. Although specific terms areemployed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense onlyand not for purposes of limitation.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising at least one processorand at least one memory including computer program code, the at leastone memory and the computer program code configured to, with theprocessor, cause the apparatus to at least: associate a first virtualsegment with a physical segment of a multi-segment wearable accessory,wherein the multi-segment wearable accessory comprises a plurality oflinks connected to one another and the physical segment is one of aplurality of physical segments supported by the links, and wherein thefirst virtual segment is an arrangement of first content configured tobe presented on a display of the physical segment; associate a secondvirtual segment with the same physical segment of the multi-segmentwearable accessory that is associated with the first virtual segment,wherein the second virtual segment is an arrangement of second contentconfigured to be presented on the display of the physical segment,wherein the display of the physical segment is configured to presentonly one of the first or second virtual segments at a given time, suchthat the first and second virtual segments are alternately presentableon the display of the same physical segment; cause only one of thevirtual segments to be presented on the display of the physical segment,such that the other virtual segment is unpresented; and in response torotation of the multi-segment wearable accessory, determine whether toreplace the virtual segment being presented with presentation of theother virtual segment, such that the virtual segment that was previouslypresented on the display of the physical segment becomes unpresented andthe other virtual segment that was unpresented becomes presented toallow a user to view a total number of virtual segments that is greaterthan a total number of physical segments of the multi-segment wearableaccessory.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memoryand the computer program code are configured to, with the processor,cause the apparatus to determine whether to replace the virtual segmentbeing presented with the presentation of the other virtual segment basedat least partially on a location of the display of the physical segmentwith respect to a user's line of sight.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2,wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code areconfigured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to cause thevirtual segment being presented to be replaced with the presentation ofthe other virtual segment in an instance in which the display of thephysical segment is outside the user's line of sight with respect todisplays of other physical segments of the multi-segment wearableaccessory.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memoryand the computer program code are configured to, with the processor,cause the apparatus to detect rotation of the multi-segment wearableaccessory via an inertial measurement unit (IMU).
 5. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program codeare configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to associateadditional virtual segments with additional physical segments of themulti-segment wearable accessory, such that each virtual segment beingpresented on a display of a respective physical segment is sequentiallyreplaced with presentation of another virtual segment associated withthe same respective physical segment.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5,wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code areconfigured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to presentvirtual segments such that virtual segments being presented on displaysof adjacent physical segments provide a user with continuous scrollingof content.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memoryand the computer program code are configured to, with the processor,further cause the apparatus to, in response to rotation of themulti-segment wearable accessory, determine whether to power down thedisplay of the physical segment.
 8. A method comprising: associating afirst virtual segment with a physical segment of a multi-segmentwearable accessory, wherein the multi-segment wearable accessorycomprises a plurality of links connected to one another and the physicalsegment is one of a plurality of physical segments supported by thelinks, and wherein the first virtual segment is an arrangement of firstcontent configured to be presented on a display of the physical segment;associating a second virtual segment with the same physical segment ofthe multi-segment wearable accessory that is associated with the firstvirtual segment, wherein the second virtual segment is an arrangement ofsecond content configured to be presented on the display of the physicalsegment, wherein the display of the physical segment is configured topresent only one of the first or second virtual segments at a giventime, such that the first and second virtual segments are alternatelypresentable on the display of the same physical segment; causing onlyone of the virtual segments to be presented on the display of thephysical segment, such that the other virtual segment is unpresented;and in response to rotation of the multi-segment wearable accessory,determining whether to replace the virtual segment being presented withpresentation of the other virtual segment, such that the virtual segmentthat was previously presented on the display of the physical segmentbecomes unpresented and the other virtual segment that was unpresentedbecomes presented to allow a user to view a total number of virtualsegments that is greater than a total number of physical segments of themulti-segment wearable accessory.
 9. The method of claim 8, whereindetermining whether to replace the virtual segment being presented withthe presentation of the other virtual segment is based at leastpartially on a location of the display of the physical segment withrespect to a user's line of sight.
 10. The method of claim 9, whereincausing the virtual segment being presented to be replaced with thepresentation of the other virtual segment occurs in an instance in whichthe display of the physical segment is outside the user's line of sightwith respect to displays of other physical segments of the multi-segmentwearable accessory.
 11. The method of claim 8 further comprisingassociating additional virtual segments with additional physicalsegments of the multi-segment wearable accessory, such that each virtualsegment being presented on a display of a respective physical segment issequentially replaced with presentation of another virtual segmentassociated with the same respective physical segment.
 12. The method ofclaim 11, wherein virtual segments being presented on displays ofadjacent physical segments provide a user with continuous scrolling ofcontent.
 13. The method of claim 8 further comprising, in response torotation of the multi-segment wearable accessory, determining whether topower down the display of the physical segment.
 14. A computer programproduct comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium having computer-executable program code portions stored therein,the computer-executable program code portions comprising program codeinstructions for: associating a first virtual segment with a physicalsegment of a multi-segment wearable accessory, wherein the multi-segmentwearable accessory comprises a plurality of links connected to oneanother and the physical segment is one of a plurality of physicalsegments supported by the links, and wherein the first virtual segmentis an arrangement of first content configured to be presented on adisplay of the physical segment; associating a second virtual segmentwith the same physical segment of the multi-segment wearable accessorythat is associated with the first virtual segment, wherein the secondvirtual segment is an arrangement of second content configured to bepresented on the display of the physical segment, wherein the display ofthe physical segment is configured to present only one of the first orsecond associated virtual segments at a given time, such that the firstand second associated virtual segments are alternately presentable onthe display of the same physcal segment; causing only one of theassociated virtual segments to be presented on the display of thephysical segment, such that the other associated virtual segment isunpresented; and in response to rotation of the multi-segment wearableaccessory, determining whether to replace the associated virtual segmentbeing presented with presentation of the other associated virtualsegment, such that the associated virtual segment that was previouslypresented on the display of the physical segment becomes unpresented andthe other associated virtual segment that was unpresented becomespresented to allow a user to view a total number of virtual segmentsthat is greater than a total number of physical segments of themulti-segment wearable accessory.
 15. The computer program product ofclaim 14, wherein determining whether to replace the virtual segmentbeing presented with the presentation of the other virtual segment isbased at least partially on a location of the display of the physicalsegment with respect to a user's line of sight.
 16. The computer programproduct of claim 15, wherein causing the virtual segment being presentedto be replaced with the presentation of the other virtual segment occursin an instance in which the display of the physical segment is outsidethe user's line of sight with respect to displays of other physicalsegments of the multi-segment wearable accessory.
 17. The computerprogram product of claim 14, wherein the program code instructions arefurther configured for detecting rotation of the multi-segment wearableaccessory via an inertial measurement unit (IMU).
 18. The computerprogram product of claim 14, wherein the program code instructions arefurther configured for associating additional virtual segments withadditional physical segments of the multi-segment wearable accessory,such that each virtual segment being presented on a display of arespective physical segment is sequentially replaced with presentationof another virtual segment associated with the same respective physicalsegment.
 19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein virtualsegments being presented on displays of adjacent physical segmentsprovide a user with continuous scrolling of content.
 20. The computerprogram product of claim 14, wherein the program code instructions arefurther configured for, in response to rotation of the multi-segmentwearable accessory, determining whether to power down the display of thephysical segment.